How often should I clean my dryer vent?

The U.S. Fire Administration estimated 2,900 clothes dryer fires in residential buildings each year, causing an estimated 5 deaths, 100 injuries and $35 million in property loss (data from 2008 to 2010, published in 2012). “Failure to clean (34 percent) was the leading factor contributing to the ignition of clothes dryer fires.”

• Clean the lint screen before or after each load (Consumer Product Safety Commission), and never run the dryer without it (U.S. Fire Administration).
• Clean the vent and exhaust duct periodically (Consumer Product Safety Commission). The U.S. Fire Administration says the venting system should be “serviced and cleaned periodically by qualified service personnel.”
• Replace plastic or foil accordion duct with rigid or corrugated semi-rigid metal duct. The Consumer Product Safety Commission notes that the plastic or foil kind “can more easily trap lint.”
• Check that the vent behind the dryer is not “damaged, crushed or restricted,” and that the outdoor vent cover opens while the dryer runs (U.S. Fire Administration).